By demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety, River Parishes Hospital has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval.

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of River Parishes Hospital occurred in May.

Accreditation is a way of evaluating quality and safety in a health care facility. It is not simply a review of policies, but an audit of the actual delivery of critical services. Maintaining accreditation is a continuous process, providing insight into the facility’s daily operations and systems. These unannounced surveys are validation of River Parishes Hospital’s continuous improvement efforts.

“Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization’s performance and the outcomes of care,” said Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, executive director, Hospital Programs, Accreditation and Certification Services, The Joint Commission. “The community should be proud that River Parishes Hospital is focusing on the most challenging goal – to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels.”

“This accreditation is proof

of River Parishes Hospital’s

organization-wide commitment to provide quality care on an ongoing basis,” said Michael Burroughs, FACHE, interim chief executive officer.